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Man accused in baby’s death is ex-con

A Clifton man jailed in the Oxycodone overdose death of his infant daughter will be prosecuted as a habitual criminal, District Attorney Pete Hautzinger told a judge Thursday.

Manuel Angel Rivera, 30, 3233 White Ave., Unit 4, faces a potential third felony conviction if convicted on charges in the March 6 death of his 18-month-old daughter, Analeisa Rivera. Manuel Rivera was ordered held on $500,000 bond at Mesa County Jail.

If convicted on the habitual counts, the prison term for Rivera would be enhanced above the 48-year maximum penalty for child abuse recklessly causing death. Rivera also is charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance in connection with his daughter’s death.

An arrest warrant affidavit remains sealed.

Hautzinger told County Court Judge Gretchen Larson that Rivera has lived in Clifton for only a few months. Citing the short time in the community and nature of his prior convictions, Hautzinger told the judge Rivera is a flight risk, and he asked for bond to be set at $200,000. Larson pointed to statements attributed to Rivera in the sealed affidavit that he “would flee to Mexico,” and she set bond higher than the DA’s request.

Analeisa Rivera died as a result of Oxycodone intoxication, and her manner of death was undetermined, officials said.

Rivera will be charged formally next Thursday.

According to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records, Rivera since 1999 has been arrested at least nine times, all in the Denver metro area, in addition to serving three stretches in state prison. Rivera was convicted of felony counts of attempted escape in 2000 and escape in 2002, both in Denver County, according to the CBI.

State authorities twice filed parole-violation allegations against Rivera between August 2005 and July 2006, but the CBI records are unclear about how those cases were resolved.

A spokesperson with the Colorado Department of Corrections didn’t immediately return phone calls Thursday on questions relating to Rivera’s involvement with the state system.